COMMANDER of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman, on Thursday confirmed that a post-mortem performed on the body of the nine-month-old baby who was forgotten by a relative in a locked car died as a result of suffocation.

The post-mortem examination was performed by government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh.

Chapman related that relatives of Jadiel Christian are cooperating fully with detectives, who have since taken statements from the parents and others on the day in question as to what transpired leading up to the incident.

He told Guyana Chronicle that so far, until the investigation is complete, the death of the child is being treated as an “incident”.

Little Christian of Lot 1868 Williamstaad Road, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown was found panting for breath in her father’s car around 14:30 hours on Tuesday.

According to reports, the child’s father, Jermaine Christian, was playing dominoes at his neighbour’s house when his wife, Nikita Christian, gave him their child to keep.

After two hours had elapsed, a female relative went over to the neighbour’s house and collected the baby to play with her.

The young relative reportedly placed the baby girl in the backseat of the car to play and after some time she got thirsty and left the baby in the hot car with the windows rolled up and doors locked and went to get something to drink.

The relative however went about and did other things such as playing in the yard with other children and watching television.

It was when a neighbour who, usually would take the baby for afternoon walks showed up to collect her, the relative remembered she had left the baby lying in the back seat of the car but by then the child was panting for breath.

The child’s parents were informed and they tried desperately to revive her and subsequently took the baby to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.